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Jonathan Waters says he was changing the culture of the Ohio State University marching band while he was director — ending an underground newspaper with questionable material, addressing a “caste system” and stopping drinking on band trips.

But in his document, Waters said he inherited a band culture in “dire need of change” when he took over as director nearly two years ago.

The document says Waters:

• Corrected a decades-old “caste system” in which first-year band members were at a disadvantage. Waters said he discontinued several practices, including having first-year members pay for food for upperclassmen on game days.

• Made sure band staff members were vigilant about prohibiting all hazing.

• Instructed students that inappropriate behavior on the bus, such as vulgar language, was prohibited.

• Ended Trip Tic, an underground publication that made fun of and insulted band members. Waters reported that he saw a copy of it in 2012 and banned any future publication. One student was suspended for part of that season in connection with Trip Tic.

• Instituted a policy this year that ended all alcohol consumption on band trips, even by those 21 or older.

• Declared an end to the “Midnight Ramp.” Waters said in the report that he felt “uneasy” about the band’s decades-old tradition of marching into the stadium in underwear on one evening. “The student leaders of the band were unanimous in their support of removing this tradition,” Waters wrote.

• Stopped the use of nicknames. Waters said nicknames for members deemed inappropriate were eliminated earlier. But beginning this year, the use of all nicknames was to end.

• Contacted university personnel over a possible violation of the university’s sexual-harassment policy in spring 2013. Details about the incident were blacked out.

In a statement, the board of governors of the TBDBITL Alumni Club also said that Waters was making changes that he didn’t get a chance to finish; that only four of the band’s 225 current members were interviewed by the university; and that Ohio State President Dr. Michael V. Drake didn’t meet with Waters to discuss the issues.